Hebrews 11:6 - Guaranteed Reward

Will God reward the good things we do here on earth?

On one hand, Jesus said, 
“So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’” Luke 17:10 (New American Standard Bible, 1995)

That sounds like it's presumptuous to expect even a thank you from God. 
But then there are passages that promise things like:
"an imperishable wreath for running the race" 1 Corinthians 9:25 (NASB95)
And
"a crown of life [awarded to] those who love the Lord." James 1:12 (NASB95) 

Look at what happens to those crowns:
Revelation 4:10 "the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne" (Incidentally that's where the group "Casting Crowns" got their name. And it shows up in the hymn Holy, Holy, Holy: "casting down down their golden crowns around the glassy sea.")

Why aspire to earning a crown only to give it up in the end?
The "crown of life" is for those who love the Lord. Their priority is life with God, not a crown.
The ones "casting crowns before the throne?" It's difficult to keep a crown on your head when you're bowing to the King of Kings, the One you've treasured above everything and everyone else.

Hebrews 11:6 pulls it all together:
"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."

God in heaven, you've promised to reward those who seek You. You have promised that we'll find what we're looking for, and we look for You. You are our Reward. Amen.